Podgorica, Vienna, (MINA-BUSINESS) – Prime Minister Dusko Markovic has said that digital business is an opportunity for the young countries trying to develop and strengthen their competitiveness at the regional and European level.
He said at the Vienna Economic Forum that digital business knew no national boundaries.
“Information and communication technologies are the basis for smart growth and are inevitable in the process of transforming the economy and society as a whole. We in Montenegro understand this well – both politicians and the administration,” said Markovic.
According to a press release issued by the Government’s Public Relations Service Markovic said that Montenegro was therefore one of the most prestigious investment destinations in Europe.
Speaking at the panel “Regional Cooperation as a part of the European Integration”, Markovic said that Montenegro had advanced the most in the EU accession process, and became a full-fledged NATO member state last year.
He also reminded that Montenegro had also seen one of the highest rates of economic growth rates in the region and Europe in 2017, which was at 4.7 percent last year and at 4.8 percent in the first half of this year.
“Implementation of the Digitalisation component as part of the Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area should contribute to the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the pan-European regional market by improving broadband infrastructure, harmonizing legislation in this area with the legislation of the European Union and increasing digital literacy,” said Markovic.
He said that Montenegro had made progress in digitalization in both strategic and legislative field, adding that it did not lag behind in terms of field results either.
“Montenegro is above the regional average in the field of the development of networks and infrastructure,” said Markovic.
According to him, the penetration of broadband connections has increased from 53 percent to 74 percent in the past two years, and the plan is to reach 80 percent by the end of 2018.
That would mean that four out of five Montenegrin households have an active broadband connection.
“Coverage of mobile 4G networks exceeds 97 percent of the populated area at the state level, which is at the very top compared to the EU,” said Markovic.
He added that Montenegro was ready to accept a decrease in roaming prices in the region.
“We supported the proposal of the European Commission to sign a new agreement at the second Digital Summit, which will be held in Belgrade in April 2019,” said Markovic.
European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel said at the same panel that the EU would like to support the efforts of the Western Balkan countries to establish a digital agenda.
She reminded that digitalisation offered an opportunity for progress and development, but also involved risk.
She underlined the importance of strengthening cyber security.
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